A Short History of Asia (3rd Revised edition)

Description

The nations of Asia now make up more than half of the world's population. With increasingly affluent, educated middle classes and vigorous, innovative industries, they are more populous and powerful than ever before, and their influence on the rest of the world is only growing. Colin Mason provides a clear, readable introduction to their history and traditions, from the Stone Age right up to the present day. This thoroughly revised, updated and expanded third edition contains new chapters on Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan, separate expanded chapters on the South Asian nations, and revised chapters on all the modern states. A new introduction explores the nature and implications of the new politics of 'guided democracy' and the current clash between industrialisation and the consequences of climate change. Enriched with detailed maps and a guide to further reading, this book is the essential guide to the history of a fascinating continent and its peoples.

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About Author

Colin Mason has been Chief Correspondent in Asia for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a diplomat, a senator and leader of his party in the Senate.

Contents

List of Maps 1. Introduction PART I: BEFORE IMPERIALISM 2. Prehistory and the first Indian Civilizations 3. The Development of Indian Culture: Hinduism and Buddhism 4. Early South-East Asia: The Ships from India 5. China: The Eternal Nation 6. Early Japan and the Tang Dynasty in China 7. The Awakening of Europe and the Challenge of Islam 8. Floodtide in China: The Song, Mongol and Ming Dynasties 9. China: Ebb Tide 10. The Three Makers of Japan and the Tokugawa Period PART II: THE 'WHITE MAN'S BURDEN' 11. The Dominators and the Dominated 12. South-East Asia: The European and Chinese Impacts 13. The Malay World: Majapahit and Malacca 14. Indonesia: The Last Independent Kingdoms and the Extension of Dutch Rule 15. India Under Two Masters: The Grand Moguls and the East India Company 16. Gandhi's India: The Struggle for Liberty PART III: THE MODERN NATIONS 17. The Second World War and the End of Empire 18. South Asia: Freedom and Poverty 19. India 20. Pakistan 21. Bangladesh 22. Afghanistan 23. The Mountain States: Nepal and Bhutan 24. Sri Lanka 25. China: Two Revolutions 26. Modern China: The Communist State 27. Mongolia 28. Indonesia and Timor Leste 29. Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 30. Japan: The Iron Triangle 31. Thailand: Two Hats - The Struggle for Democracy 32. The Philippines: Trouble in Paradise 33. Korea: Divided Nation 34. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia 35. Burma: Rule By the Gun 36. The Asian Century? Suggested Further Reading Index